Binder



Jan. 5, 1932. H BORN '1,840,184

BINDER Filed Feb. 17, 1931 v fzvefzZ Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE HARRY BORN, F MERCHANTVILLVE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10y A. M. COLLINS MANU- FACTURING CO., OF. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN SYL- VAN IA BINDER vAlriplicration'` filedv February17, 1931. Serial No. 516,418.

Thisinvention relates to clasps for loose leaf covers and binders, and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which is of novel and simple construction. The .device is of such construction that it forms a structure having the requisite simplicity and eiiiciency to meet'the demands of users of the device commercially.

An important feature of the invention is the novel clasp construction which, while yparticularly adapted to the purpose of the present invention, is also susceptible of general use as a clasp or clamping device.

The above objects and features, and also the details of construction of a device conyshowing clearly the manner in Which the cover is cut away to decrease the overall thickness of the paper-receiving folds;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the clasp x n of my device in closed or clamping position;

Fig. 5 is a view of the clasp similar to Fig. 4, except that the clasp is open; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of the device of Fig. 4, looking at the same from the left-hand -side thereof.

Referring to the several `figures of the drawings, my device comprises a cover 1 and a plurality of clasps 2. The cover is preferably formed from a single piece of material, which is bent in the manner clearly shown in 'i Figs. 1 to 3 to provide a front 3, a back 4 and a pair of centrally disposed folds 5 and 6. The folds are adapted to receive loose sheets of papers between them for the purpose of re- Vm'ovably attaching said sheets Within the cover. The cover may be made of any suitable material, such as heavy paper or flexible cardboard. As illustrated clearly in Fig. 3, the centrally-disposed folds of the cover are cut away to decrease their overall thickness at the points where the clasps are attached to f the cover. This is done by merely removing a portin of the insides 7 and 8 of the folds which lie adjacent each other. The cut-away portion of the folds is indicated by numeral 9. The outsides 10 and 11 of the folds are provided with pairs of openings 12 and 13 adjacent each cut-away portion for the reception of the clasps, as will appear more clearly hereinafter. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings, the clasp of my invention coinprises a rigid U-shaped frame 14, a U-shaped spring 15, and a lever 16. One arm of the U-shaped frame is formed to provide a neck or restricted portion 17 having shoulders 18 and 19 on each side thereof. The other arm of the frame is provided with an opening 20. The spring takes the form of a lea-f spring having one end tapered and bent to protrude throughopening 20, as indicated at 21. The spring lies Within the frame and is adapted to be operated by lever 16. Lever 16 comprises a fiat piece of meta-l having one end bent as at 22. The body of the lever has a T-shaped opening 23 therein to enable the removable mounting of the lever upon the frame. As will be apparent from Fig. 6, the lever is adapted to have the enlarged head 24 of the frame inserted through the upper portion of the T-shaped opening. The neck 17 of the frame then slides Within the restricted portion of the T-shaped opening, thereby causing the lever to pivotally rest upon shoulders 18 and 19 of the frame. As will be apparent from F igs. 4 and 5, the lever is adapted to be pivotally moved upon the frame to exert pressure upon the spring and causethe spring to clamp the inserted sheets of paper.

After the clamp has been assembled in the manner indicated above, the frame and spring are inserted through openings 12 and 13 in the cover, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Any number of clamping devices may. of course` be used with the cover. two being shown in the present instance. The sheets of paper or the like, which are to be removably bound within the cover, may be inserted between the foldsof the cover after the clasps have been opened by lifting the lever to the position Vshown in Fig. 5. In order to allow a greater number of sheets to be inserted within the limited space between the arms of the clasps, I cut away portions of the folds in the cover, as explained in detail above. It will be ap; parent that this decreases the overall'thickness of the folds which lie between thearms of the clasps. A greater number ofV sheets may, therefore, be inserted between the folds ofthe cover.y After the sheets have been inserted, the various claspsare closed by pushing the levers to the position shown in F ig. 4. This causes the movable arm of spring 15 to press against the outside of the adjacent fold, thereby clamping the sheets of paper firmly between the folds ofthe cover. If difficulty is encountered in inserting thin sheets of papers into the relatively small space between the arms of the clasps, the sheets may first be placed in a simple paper folder which may then have its single folded edge inserted between the arms.

It will be obvious to persons skilled inthe art that the device of my invention embodies features which greatly increase the simplicity and efficiency of the device. It is important to note that the elements which make up the clasp of my device are separable and the clasps may be disassembled or assembled very readily. No pins or other assembling means are necessary to assemble the elements of the clasp. Such elements may be manufactured separately and then assembled at low cost. The elements of the clasp may be made of any suitable metallic material. In manufacturing such elements, it is merely necessary to cut or stamp them to the desired size and shape and bend them as illustrated.

Various changes and modications in the construction of the device are possible and will occur to persons skilled in the art. Such changes are within the scope of the invention,

and it is to be understood that only such limi- Y tations as are imposed by the accompanying claims are to be imposed upon the invention.

I claim: Y l. A clasp comprising a. U-sliaped frame having one arm formed to provide av neck and shoulders and the other arm provided with an opening, a U-shaped spring' clamping` member within said frame and having one f 1end bent to protrude through said opening,

and bent lever having a lshaped opening for removably mounting said lever upon said shoulders, said lever being adapted when so mounted to operate said clamping member.

2. A clasp comprising `a U-shaped frame having a neck and a head at the end of one arm thereof, a U-shaped clasping member carried by said frame, and an actuating lever having an aperture therein, said aperture havin a restricted area and an enlarged area, where y `said head' may be inserted through said enlarged area and said neck positioned within said restricted area to removably mount said lever upon said frame, said lever being adapted when so mounted to operate said clasping member.

3. A clasp comprising a U-shaped frame havin a neck and a head at the end of one arm t ereof,ra U-shaped clasping member carried by said frame, and an actuating lever having a T-shaped opening through which said4 head and neck may be inserted to removably mount said lever upon said frame, said lever being adapted when so mounted to operate said clasping member. f

HARRY BORN. 

